Meet the Board

The Food & Drink Forum Board members have built up a wealth of experience in the sector over many years. Their backgrounds are various and wide-ranging, but all have a passion for the industry that’s been gained through direct involvement in food production or manufacture.

Board members are keen to drive the food and drink sector forward in the East Midlands – championing new and existing businesses within the industry – and their expertise is just one of the benefits offered to Forum members.

 

		Chairman: Peter Knight - Camgrain A Food Science graduate from the University of Nottingham, Peter began his career at RHM (now part of Premier Foods), before moving to Bowmans, a family milling concern. This was followed by a spell at Smith’s Flour Mills Ltd, a division of Northern Foods, based at Worksop, where he was Managing Director for 14 years. During this time he helped establish the Food and Drink Forum and was a founding Board Director. In 2000, Peter was president of the National Association of British and Irish Millers. He is currently non-executive director of Camgrain, which has been at the forefront of the movement to establish supply chain partnerships with grain processors, manufacturers and retail groups. Specialist areas of expertise Peter has worked extensively in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands, and has a particular interest in innovation in the baking and cereals sector.
		Fiona Anderson – The Food and Drink Forum After graduating with a BSc in Catering Administration, Fiona began her career working in hospitality in the USA for Marriott Hotels. She moved to Pizza Hut to assist with the establishment of Pizza Hut delivery units in the south central areas of Los Angeles. On returning to the UK, she co-developed a Microsoft windows application for point of sale and management reporting for small businesses. She later became assistant to the MD for the agricultural division of Cargill PLC (now Frontier).  Fiona joined the Food and Drink Forum as Membership Manager before becoming Operations Manager and then Managing Director in 2006. Fiona is a graduate of the Common Purpose Matrix programme and also has Open University qualifications in Managing Change and Managing Resources. Specialist areas of expertise Fiona’s key areas of expertise straddle the private, public and not for profit sectors. They include managing change, business strategy and development, economic development, and partnership working.
		David Williams - Butt Foods Limited David Williams, is Managing Director of Butt Foods Ltd, Nottingham. He had five years experience working with supermarket retailers in fresh foods management, before launching the award-winning Butt Foods Ltd in 1990 with Mr Mazhar Butt. The specialist bread company continues to be at the cutting edge of bakery innovation, and is one of the most sophisticated bakeries in Europe. Specialist areas of expertise Developing and growing smaller businesses by driving innovation, finding niche markets and creating products to fulfil that market demand.
		David Short - Clegg Food Projects Ltd Chairman of Clegg Food Projects Ltd, David Short, has been working in the construction industry side of the food and drink sector since 1970. During his previous position, with Northern Foods, he was involved in the expansion of the group into ready meals and fresh sandwiches – working on the design and construction of modern facilities. In 1994 David joined Nottingham-based Clegg Food Projects which provides specialist project management, design, and construction and refurbishment services to the food and drink sector nationally. He has also carried out work with Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association on the construction of food factories. Specialist areas of expertise David has particular expertise in hygiene conditions, hygiene regimes for food manufacturing, and equipment processing and building fabric.
		Mike Adams - Frontier Agriculture Ltd Mike Adams, who is International Manager at Frontier Agriculture Ltd, Witham St Hughs, Lincoln, has had 32 years of continuous employment, initially joining Usborn Grain during the 1970s. He has remained with the team through different ownerships and is now International Manager at Frontier Agriculture following a merger between Allied Grain and Banks Cargill in April 2005. He is responsible for the importation and exportation of goods handled by the company, and is a past president of trade organization UKASTA – UK Agricultural Supply Trade Association. Specialist areas of expertise Mike has expertise in importation and exportation, and knowledge of usability and sourcing of UK raw materials for the food industry.
		Sue Wigram - The Food Processing Faraday Sue Wigram, Managing Director for The Food Processing Faraday, began her career as a research chemist for Diversey, specialising in food and beverage hygiene. She then moved to Hepworth Building Products where she became a production manager. Further research and technical sales roles followed with Unilever. A move to Pera in 2000 eventually led to secondment to what was then the Faraday Project. Sue’s current role at the Food Processing Faraday relies on her scientific knowledge, but is largely a business role. In 2003, she was instrumental in incorporating the Food Processing Faraday Partnership (FPFP), an organisation which promotes collaboration between industry and academia. Sue is responsible for overall business strategy and performance. She also has a key role in the identification and development of new strategic opportunities that assist UK food manufacturers towards the goal of improved manufacturing efficiency. Specialist areas of expertise Sue has experience in both the scientific and business arenas. Food and beverage hygiene, water treatment, business development, technology and commercialisation.
		Rod Goss - Melton Foods Finance Director at Melton Foods (part of the Samworth Group), Rod Goss, has worked for a number of household name companies during his career. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in maths and economics, he qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloittes, before starting work with Procter & Gamble. After ten years with Procter and Gamble and then Mars, Rod moved to Geest plc in 1991. He joined Geest plc as Group Financial Controller, before becoming acting Group Finance Director. He then moved to chilled and frozen food firm Cavaghan & Gray plc, who were subsequently taken over by Northern Foods. After leaving Northern Foods, Rod spent two years as a consultant before joining United Milk plc as Finance Director in 2001. After the sale of United Milk in 2004 he joined Samworth Brothers, where he became Finance Director of Saladworks, which produces ready meals, and then Finance Director of Melton Foods. Specialist areas of expertise Rod has wide financial experience, including corporate finance, treasury, financial planning and financial control.
		Tim Sutton  A highly focused director and board member, Tim Sutton is experienced in both plc and private companies and has extensive contacts across the retail and fresh food sectors. His previous roles include Marketing and N.B.D. Director at Produce World Ltd  Managing Director of Geest Fresh Foods and Sales and Marketing Director at GEEST.   In his high profile sales, marketing, new business development and leadership roles, Tim has achieved growth and innovation through the development of partnerships with key targeted customers in order to deliver industry leading returns.  Recognised and respected for contributions made to the fresh food sector and for outstanding commitment, drive and personal integrity, Tim is currently seeking a new challenge where a full leadership contribution can be made. In the mean time he continues to work in the food industry in non executive roles and provides consultancy on strategic growth, marketing ,branding, business development coupled with building and mentoring teams.  Specialist areas of expertise Tim’s areas of expertise include: providing clear leadership to business, functional teams and the supply chain. Delivering growth and change strategies in the fresh food, produce and fish sectors. Building industry winning teams and delivering both product and market innovation.  His experience spans plc, new start up and family owned business cultures.
		Kevin Woods  - QV Foods Ltd  Kevin Woods is Business Development Manager at Lincolnshire-based firm QV Foods. He has worked at the company, which produces and processes fresh produce, mainly potatoes, since January 1994 in a variety of roles, including accounts, system administration, factory manager, general manager and project manager. Kevin previously worked as an auditor in local government. His current role at QV Foods, which is based at Holbeach Hurn, near Spalding, is retail focused. Specialist areas of expertise Kevin has links with all the major retailers in the UK, and has particular expertise in new concept development for the retail market.
		Ketan Varu – SpiceNTice Ltd After working as an IT consultant, Ketan Varu and his family launched curry kit company Spice-N-Tice in 2004. Based in Leicester, the firm has grown steadily and now supplies Asda stores nationally, Harrods, more than 350 delis and independent stores, exports to Ireland and has more than 7,000 subscribers to its newsletter and its website, from where it also sells direct to customers. Ketan is responsible for business development. Specialist areas of expertise Having launched and developed a business, Ketan has expertise in starting-up and growing a business, sales and marketing, and technology.
		Daniel Griffiths
		Fiona Carter – Browne Jacobson LLP Fiona Carter is Corporate Regulation Partner at Browne Jacobson LLP, one of the largest law firms in the Midlands with offices in Nottingham, Birmingham and London. With over 500 staff this is a full service law firm. Fiona, who is uniquely qualified as a Solicitor Advocate, has over 20 years experience in Food Law and Regulatory Law. As an Advocate, she has represented clients in a wide variety of courts and tribunals and leads a team of lawyers who represent companies facing regulatory enquiries or prosecutions. Specialist areas of expertise Fiona is an acknowledged expert in Food Law, and Packaging and Labelling Law, and heads the Food and Drink Team. Another important specialism is her advertising and marketing practice. Both specialisms demand a thorough understanding of European legislation, which is increasingly paramount. Fiona also advises on a wide range of legislation implemented by regulators ranging from Trading Standards, HSE, FSA, VOSA, The Environment Agency, BIS, OFT and the ASA.
		Professor Val Braybrooks MBE – University of Lincoln Val is Dean and Associate Professor of Food Manufacturing at the Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Animal Sciences, The University of Lincoln. As Dean, she leads the university’s work for the agri-food sector supporting approximately 650 full-time and some 2500 part-time students, consultancy and research. The faculty operates from two campuses, Holbeach,  the  National Centre of Food Manufacturing in South Lincolnshire and the 460 ha historic Riseholme Park Estates on the outskirts of Lincoln, home to the faculty’s farm and agricultural enterprise.  Val has more than 27 years experience in further education and higher education having led the development of Holbeach as the National Centre of Food Manufacturing which is seen as an exemplar of a public and private sector partnership for which she was awarded the MBE in the 2010 New Year’s Honours.  Val is now working with regional partners and employers to build strategic capacity for agricultural education through Riseholme along with the continued advancement of Holbeach as a national resource for the food sector. She holds an MBA and Associate Professor status in Food Manufacturing. A graduate of Food Science she also holds a Master in Commercial Horticulture (RHS) and a Cert.Ed.   Specialist areas of expertise  Val has a personal academic interest in strategic management and has expertise in business and educational development as well as a broad knowledge of agriculture, food and the commercial horticultural sectors.
		Robin Southgate (Special Advisor to The Forum Board) Robin Southgate has spent almost 40 years in the food industry. Now retired from full-time employment, he began his career as a production supervisor at Heinz, later worked in management for Bowyers, and then had his own meat products business, before joining Northern Foods. His career with Northern Foods included senior positions in operating factories and divisions, with the last five years as senior technical executive. During this time he was involved with several government advisory committees and scientific and trade organisations. He is a member of East Midlands Innovation.  Specialist areas of expertise Robin has gained extensive experience of the food industry, and has a particular interest in using science and technology for profit improvement.

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